Machine for making links or similar articles



' Feb. 9 1926.

J. H. APPLETON MACHINE FOR MAKING LINKS OR SIIILAR ARTICLES Filed May17', 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v Mia/70pm Feb. 9 1926.

.1. H. APPLETON HACHINEFOR MAKING LINKS 0R SIMILAR ARTICLES 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 17. 1924 .mmmm WI/10,111 I1 'QMA/ t-hO PatentedFeb. 9, 1926.

PATENT QFFIQE.

UNITED STATEE JOSEPH E. A?PLETON, OF PORT WASHINGTON, VIISCONSIIASSIGNOR T LEACH COM- PANY, OF OSHKOSII, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION G1'WIFCONSIIQ'.

MACHINE FOR MAKZNG LINKS OR SIMILAR ARTICLES.

Application filed May 17, 1924. Serial No. 713,964.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrrr H. Arrnnron, a citizen of the United States,residing at Port Washington, in the county of Ozaukee and State ofWisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ma-.

chines for Making Links or Similar Articles,

of which the following is a specification.

The present invention is concerned with machines for automaticallymaking coldshut repair links or similar articles.

chine wherein the lengths of stock to be operated on are individuallysupported while in course of formation.

Another object is to provide such a machine wherein the lengths of stockto be operated on are presented in operative relation to each of thecomplementary forming mechanisi'n's in turn upon relative r tarymovement between the mechanisms a unit and the stock supporting means.

finother object is to provide such a machine wherein the complementaryforming mechanisms are arranged compactly tor etli'cient operation.

,I While the foregoin statements are indicative, in a general way, ofthe nature or" the invention, other objects and advantages not hereinspecifically referred to will be appreciated upon a full comprehensionof the novel features presented in the construction, arrangement andoperation of the machine.

in order that the invention may be readily understood, an exemplifyingembodiment ot the same is set forth in the accompanying drawings and inthe following detailed description based thereon. Inasmuch as theinvention is obviously susceptible of embodiment in other and variedconstructural forms without. departure from the essence of the inventionand without sacrifice of its material advantages, it will be understoodthat the drawing and description are to be considered as illustrativeonly and not as restricting the inventionshort of its intended .scope asdefined by the appended claims.

In the\drawings Fig. 1' 1s; a plan v ewgo't the machine,

Fig. 2 is avertical section taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line iii--23 out Fig. 1;

d is a vertical section taken on line l-l of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on line of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of finished cold-shut repair links;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section illustrating a modified form of the machinewherein the feeding mechanism and the heating mechanism are combined,and corresponds generaliv to a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;and Fig. 8 is a vertical secion taken on the line 88 of Fig. 7.

it will be observed in the drawingsthat the machine of the inventionincludes a frame 10, a number oi complen'icntarv forming mechanisms 11,means 12 for operating the niechanisn'is 11, a device 13 for supportinga number of lengths of stock in operative relation to the mechanisms 11,and means 14itor operating the device 13. The machine operates, whenforming cold-shut links for instance, first to feed a length of stockinto the machine, then to heat and upset. one end of the length, then toflatten such upset end, then to aperture such flattened end, and then tobend the shank of the link into the finished shape shown in Fig. 6.

The frame ot the machine consists of a base portion 15 on which themechanisms 11 are fixedly mounted, a rim portion 16 which is offsetadjacent its upper edge to provide an annular guide 17 in which thedevice 18 is movably mounted, and a bracket 18 which extends upwardlyfrom one side of the rim 1? to a point above the center ot the "framewhere a bearing head 19 is providcd.

The complementary forming mechanisms 11 consist of a feeding mechanism20, a combined heating and upsetting mechanism 21, a flatteningmechanism 22, a punching mechanism 23, a primary bending mechanism 24,and a secondary bending mechanism 25. Each of the forming mechanisms 11includes a guide bracket 26 which is fixedly mounted on the base portion15 of the frame and an associated cam follower the the

the

the

the

which is slidably mounted in the bracket for reciprocal movementradially of the fran'ie.

feeding mechanism 20 (Fig. 3) comprises a substantially horizontal slot28 which is positioned radially of the frame in the rim portion 16 andin a laterally e:;.- tender portion 29 of the frame, a chute 3 above theslot 28 for holding in superposed relation a number of lengths 31 ofstock to be fed to the device 13 of the machine, a plunger 32 which isreciprocally mounted in the slot 28 for ejecting the lowermost length ofstock in the chute from the slot 28 and into engagement with the device13, and a link 3323 which is connected by a rod ill to the cam follower27 of the feeding mechanism for reciprocating the plunger 32 uponactuation of the cam follower 27.

T he combined heating and upsetting mechanism 21 (Fig. 1) comprises anelectrode head which is mounted on the free end of the cam follower 27.The length of stock supported by the device 13 in operative relation tothe combined heating and mechanism is heated by the paspsetting Itherethrough of an electriecurrent in a circuit which has asitsterminals the electrode head and that portion of the device 13contacting with the len 'th of stock, and, when the length of stock hasbeen sulliciently heated, the electrode head 35 is driven outwardly oythe cam follower 2? to upset one end of the len th of stock.

The flattening mechanism 22 (Fig. 2) con'iprises two vertically alignedand oppositely moving han'nners 36 which are adapted to be broughttogether upon that end of the length of stock upset by the heating andupsetting mechanism 21, and two pivotally mounted camming levers 3 7which are interposed between the cam follovwer 27 and the hamn'iers 86for translating the horizontal movement of the former into the verticalmovement of the latter.

The punching mechanism 23 (F 5) comprises an inverted die head 38against which the pper flattened face of the length of stock is adaptedto be positioned in centered relation to a vertical punch bore in thedie head, a vertically reciprocable punch 39 mounted in an extension ofthe bracket 26 in axial aligmnent with the punch bore, and a pivotallymounted camming level all for translating the horizontal movei'nei'itlie cam follower 27 into the vertical moveiuent of the punch 89.

The primary bending mecnanism 24 (Fig. comprises a pivotally mounted diemember 41 which has its intermediate bending portion in engagement withthe previously straightlength of stock "and its free portion inengagement with the cam when the cam follower 27 is I e e die 'a 'er a iOs illated and bends the major portion of the length of stock into avertical position as ndicated in dotted lines at l2.

T he secondary bending mechanism 25 (Fig. 2) includes a hook-shaped diemember 43 which is mounted for limited pivotal movement on the camfollower 2'. \Vhen the cam follower is reciprocated outwardly, the lowerportion llof the die member 43 contacts with the lower portion of thelength of st ck which is fixedly supported at its opposite side by atriangularly shaped anvil -l mounted on the rim 16 of the frame, andcauses the upper portion at of the die mem her 43 to move outwardly anddownwardly to bend the length of stock into the form of the finishedlink. 7

The means 12 for operating all of the forming mechanisms heretoforedescribed consists of a vertical shaft l? which is journaled centrallyof the frame with its lower end in a bearing 1-8 in the base portion ofthe frame and its upper end in the bearing head 19 of the bracket 18 ofthe frame. The shaf" 47 is rotated from a suitable sov cc of powerthrough gears 4:9, and is provided, above the base portion 15, with aplurality of cams 50 which are in operative engagement with can! rollers51 mounted on the inner ends of the cam followers 27. During eachrevolution of the shaft r-'7, the cams 50 cause all of the formingmechanisms to function by reciprocating the cam followers 27 of thesame. Any suitable means, such as springs or the like, are provided toreturn the cam followers 27 to their innermost positions.

The device 13 for supporting the lengths of stock in operative relationto the several forming mechanisms in turn, an annular member which isjournaled in the guide 17 of the frame and is provided, adjacent itsupper rim, with radially disposed bores 52 corresponding in number tothe number of forming mechanisms embodied in the machine. The device 13is moved in its opera tion to positions wherein the bores 52 successively come into alignment with the slot 28 of the feeding mechanism,and the lengths of stock are inserted in the bores by the plunger 32 toradial positions wherein the outside ends of the lengths of stock areflush with the outside face of he annular member 13. Small upwardlyspring-messed plane era 53, or any other means suitable for the purpose,may be employed to prevent the lengths of stock from accidentall;turning in the bores 52 during the several for-mini; operations, the lenths of stock be H vented from movingoutv-Jard I 1 being moved by thedevice 1; o ment with the feeding mechanism, by the inner contactingface of the rim 16 of the frame, as shown in Figs. 2, '1 and 5. Duringeach revolution of the shaft 41-7, but at a time when all of the formingmechanisms are temporarily inactive, the device 13 rotatesa portion of aturn to bring each length of stock supported thereby from its positionin operative relation to one mechanism 11 into its position in operativerelation to the next mechanism 11.

The device 13 is provided, at points be tween the bores 52, with aplurality of upwardly and inwardly extending spokes 5% which terminate,centrally of the machine, in a hub 55 which is sleeved upon tne shaft47. An annular shoulder 56 is provided on the upper edge of the rim 16of the frame, and projects inwardly over the upper edge 0f the device 13throughout the greater pertion of its circumference, ternjiinatingadjacent the secondary bending mechanism in the short triangular anvile5 n'eviously lescribed, and commencing again on the other side of thefeeding mechanism 20, as shown in Fig. 1. The shoulder 56 serves tomaintain the annular member -3 seated in the guide 17 of the frame, andto provide the anvil about which the secondary bend ing operation on thelink is performed; and the interruption in the shoulder adjacentthefeeding mechanism serves to permit the finished bent link to be ejectedfrom that bore 52 in alignment with the feeding mechanism by theincoming length of stock.

The means 14 for turning the device 13 a portion of a revolution duringeach revolution of the shaft 47 consists of an upwardly spring-pressedclutch collar 57 which is splined on the shaft iTfor vertical movementbet-ween the bearing head 19 of the bracket 18 and the hub 55 of thedevice 13. The opposing faces of the bearing head 19 and the collar 57are each provided with a short cam 58, and the opposing faces of thecollar 57 and the hub 55 are each provided with a j aw clutch 59. Whenthe shaft ll and the clutch collar 5 are rotating, the car is engagewith each other during approximately a one-sixth part of eachrevolution, and the collar 57 is thereupon shifted downwardly intoclutched engagement with the hub 55, causing the device 13 to be moved aonesixth part of each revolution or an amount wherein the lengths ofstock supported thereby are caused to move the distance separating anytwo of the mechanisms. The outer face of the clutch collar 5'? isprovided with a plurality of corresponding cams 60 which open ate a camfollower 61 when the collar is clutched with the hub 55 to release anindexing latch 62 which engages in slots provided about thesuperstructure of the device 13 by pairs of spaced lugs 63. The recesseon the clutch collar 5"! between the earns 60 PBl'llllt'tllQ camfollower 61 to return to its normal position as soon as the collar hasturned the hub the proper distance, and the position of the device 13 isas a consequence .stock to be fed to the vention, while evident from theforegoing detailed description, may he briefly summarized as follows:

The operating shaft 4:7 rotates continuously, and during each revolutionserves, first,

to move the lengths of stock supported in the device 13 from positionsin operative re lation to certain of the mechanisn'is to new positionsin operative relation to the next succeeding mec ianisms and, then, tocause all of the forming mechanisms to operate upon the lengths of stockpresented in operative relation thereto by the device 13. is each one ofthe stock-supporting bores of the device 13 is brought into alignmentwith the feeding mechanism 20, a new length of stool: is fed thereintoand the linished length previously occupying such bore is expelled bythe new length of stock and permitted to drop into any suitablereceptacle adjacent the base of the machine.

In Figs. '7 and 8 is shown a modified form of the invention wherein thefeeding mechanism 2t) and the heating portion of the combined heatingand upsetting mechanism 1.

of the first embodiment are replaced by a combined heating and feedingmechanism 6%. The mechanism 6% consists of a furnace 65 which isinieriorly chned chute 66 upon provided with an inwhich the lengths ofmachine are a 'e to rest. That side of the chute G6 adjaont the machineis cut awav at its bottom to permit the heated gases of the furnace tocome in contact with the ends of the lowermost lengths of stock. Thebottom of the chute 6G terminates in a slot in which the ejectingplunger operates in the manner described in connection with the firstembodiment. This form of the invention permits of a substantial increasein the speed of production, since in the first form the speed of themachine must be relatively slow in order to permit the length of stockat the combined heating and upsetting mechanism to heat sufficiently,while in this form no delay need 3e occasioned between operationsbecause of the time required in the heating operation.

I claim:

1. in a machine for making links or similar articles, generally circularframe, a number of con plemeniary forming mechanisms fixedly mounted ina circle on the frame, an operating shaft journal-ed in the frame at thecenter of the mechanisms, cam connections between the shaft and the mechanisms for operating all of the latter once (Luring each revolution ofthe shaft, a genera annular device rotatably mounted on the frame forsupporting a number of inn lengths of stock in operative relation to themechanisms, and a clutch connection bc tween the shaft and the devicefor intermittently rotating the latter a part of one revolutioncorresponding to the distance between any two mechanisms during eachrevolution of the shaft and while all of the mechanisms are inactive topresent each of the lengths of stock in operative relation to each ofthe mechanisms in turn.

2-, In a machine for making links or similar articles, a generallycircular frame, a number of complementary forming mechanisms fixedlymounted in a circle on the frame, an operating shaft journaled in theframe at the center of the mechanisms, cam

connections between the shaft and the mecl anisms for operating all ofthe latter once during each revolution of the shaft, a generally annulardevice rotatably mounted on the frame for supportin a numl' er oflengths of stock in operative relation to the mechanisms, a clutchconnection between the shaft and the device for intermittently rotatingthe latter, and means operative upon the completion of each intermittentmovement of the device to lock the same with the stock supportingportions thereof in proper register with the mechanisms.

3. In a machine for mak rig links or sim ilar articles, a generallycircular frame, a number of complementary forming mechanisms fixedlypositioned in a circle on the me, a cam shaft journaled in the frame atthe center of the mechanisms, and a munber of cam followers reciprocallymountet on the frame radially of the same for opcrating the mechanismsfrom the shaft upon each revolution ofthe same.

4. in a machine for making links or sim ilar articles, a mechanism forfirst heating and then upsetting a portion of a length of stock,including a movable hammer hai-ing its impact face electricallyconnected to constitute an electrode for ieating a length of stock whilein contact therewith and prior to upsetting the same, and means forautomatically moving the hammer to upset the length of stock uponcompletion of the heating op ration 5. in machine for making links orsimilar articles, a mechanism for first heating and then upsetting aportion of a length of stock, including continuously rotating cam, a.reciprocating cam follower for operating the mechanism, and a hax-miercarried by the cam follower and having its impact face electricallyconnected to constitute an electrode for heating a len h of stock whilein contact therewith and prior to upsetting the same, said cam advancingthe cam follower to upset the stock with the hammer upon completion ofthe heating operation.

S. In a machine for making links or simila. articles, a mechanism forflattening an upset portion of a length of stock, including" twoopposing hammers mounted for movement toward and away from each other, areciprocating member for operating the mechanism movable perpendicularlyto the han'nners, and camming levers connecting aperture therein, areciprocating member for operating the mechanism movable perpendicularlyto the movement of the punch, and cumming lever connecting the operatingmember with the punch for translating the movement of the former intothe movement of the latter.

8. In a machine for making links or similar articles, a mechanism forbending a straight length of stock approximately including a pivotallymounted die member having" a face for engagement with the stock normallypositioned at an angle to the axis of the stock, and a reciprocatingmember for operating the die member movable parallel to the axis of theSlZOCK. while in engagement with the interposed die member.

In a machine for making links or similar articles, a mechanism forbending a length of stock more than 90, including a stationary anvilabout which the stock is to be bent and against one face of which aportion of the stock is adapted to be held, an operating member movabletoward and 'a' ay from the anvil perpendicularly to the ELT-ilS of thestock held thereagainst, and a hook-shaped die member mounted forlimited pivotal moven'ient on the end of the opcratingmember and adaptedto tilt on the operating in mber upon engagementwith. that portion ofthe stock backed by the anvil whereby to bend the unhacked portion aboutthe anvil upon further movement of the operating nicn'iber.

10.111 a machine for making links or similar articles, a number of com'ilenientary forming: mechanisn'is, means for operating the mechanisms,a radially a irerturcd annular meniher for siuaportiin; in the aperturesthereof number of lengths of stock in operative relation to themechanisms, and means for elleeting relative movement between the stocksupporting member and the mechanisms to present each of the lengths ofstock in operative relation to each of the mechanisms in turn.

11. In amachine for making links or similar articles, a number ofcomplementary forming mecl'ianisms, a device for supporting a length. ofstock in operative relation to any one of the mechanisms, and a singlecontinuously rotating shaft having eparate power transmittingconnections with the forming mechanisms and With the supporting devicefor both intermittently operating the mechanisms anal intermittnetlye'ltecting relative movement between the (levice and the mechanismsWhile the latter are not operating to present the length ol stock inoperative relation to each of the mechanisms in tur 12. In a machine formaking links or similar articles, a number of complementary "formingmechanisms operative upon a length at stock to aperture one portion andbend another portion of the same, means for opcrating the mechanisms, adevice engageahle with still another portion of the stock throughout theoperation of the machine for supporting the stock in operative relationto any one of the mechani ms, and means for el ecting relative movementbetween the device and the mechanisms to present the length of stock inoperative relation to each of the mechanisms in turn.

13. In a machine for making linlzs or similar articles, a number ofcomplementary forming mechanisms, means for operating the mechanisms, aclevice for supporting a length of stock in operative relation to anyone oi? the mechanisms, means for imermittently ctlectingrelativemovement between the clevice and the mechanisms to present the length ofsteel: in operative relation to each of the mechanisms in turn, andmeans operative upon the completion of each intermittent movement tolocl' the device and the mechanisms with the stock supporting portion ofthe device in proper register with the mechanisms.

14. In a machine for making links or similar articles, a generallycircular frame, a number of COlllpl-Ql'flfilltitl) forming mechmsarranged on the frame, a radially apertnreu annular member rotatablymount- ;trame for supporting in the apertnres tl ereo't' a number oflengths of stock in operative tion to the mechanisms, means for holtlinthe stool: against accidental (lis- 3 placement v: en in the apertures,and means for intermittently rotating the stock supporting member tomove the stock carried thereby 'lrom one mechanism to another.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

JOSEPH H. APPLETO N.

